Cooks, Fast Food salary in Joplin, MO-KS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $28,600 a year ($13.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,140 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 4% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $29,890. There are 23 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $29,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Joplin, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| 75th percentile | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,140 | $15.93 |
| Average (mean) | $29,640 | $14.25 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,383.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,191.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,100 |
| Weekly | $550 |
| Hourly | $13.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $28,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Missouri at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,860 | 17,700 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,170 | 13,850 |
| Lawrence, KS | $29,700 | 110 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,620 | 1,020 |
| Springfield, MO | $29,190 | 4,880 |
| Columbia, MO | $29,110 | 2,470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,820 | 1,070 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 | 1,320 |
| Topeka, KS | $26,680 | 170 |
| Wichita, KS | $25,580 | 390 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Joplin, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $33,930 | $16.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $31,070 | $14.94 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,730 | $13.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| Bartender | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Dishwasher | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,750 | $14.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Joplin, MO-KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Joplin, MO-KS?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area is $28,600 a year, or $13.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Joplin, MO-KS?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area earn at least $33,140 a year. The top 25% earn $28,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Joplin, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,600 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,600 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Joplin, MO-KS?
About 2,030 cooks, fast food are employed in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.